TikTok now lets users send voice notes and images ...

TikTok is giving customers new methods to work together with others through direct messages (DMs), the corporate instructed TechCrunch on Friday. Customers will now be capable to ship voice notes and share as much as 9 pictures or movies in one-to-one and group chats on the platform.

With these new options, TikTok is positioning itself as extra than simply an leisure platform, aiming to grow to be a spot the place customers work together often past merely sending one another TikTok movies. Moreover, the brand new capabilities convey TikTok’s messaging expertise extra consistent with that of different well-liked social apps and providers.

With voice notes, customers can report and ship audio messages as much as 60 seconds lengthy. The launch of the function comes as providers like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Apple’s Messages already supply the flexibility to ship voice notes to others through DMs.

It is smart for TikTok so as to add voice notes to its DMs, particularly as a rising variety of individuals, particularly Gen Z, are embracing the format for communication.

The function is rolling out over the subsequent few weeks, TikTok says.

As for sharing pictures and movies, customers can both take a photograph or video with their digicam or choose one from their digicam roll to share it with others. They will additionally select to edit the content material earlier than sending it.

For person security, individuals can’t ship a picture or video as their preliminary message request. For instance, if somebody messages you for the primary time, they will’t ship a photograph or video they’ve taken themselves; they will solely share content material already on TikTok.

Moreover, when somebody chooses to ship a photograph or video, TikTok will remind them to guard their privateness and be conscious of who they’re sending that content material to.

Whereas DMs on TikTok are unavailable to customers beneath the age of 16, the corporate is including protections for customers between the ages of 16 and 18. For example, TikTok has automated techniques in place to detect and block pictures containing nudity. Because of this the sender will likely be blocked from sending the nude picture, and the receiver received’t see the picture in any respect.

Customers above the age of 18 can select to toggle this security function on of their app settings.

TikTok sees the brand new options as a means for customers to precise themselves and join with others in ways in which they’re already accustomed to.

The transfer comes as TikTok has been working to construct out its messaging product. Final 12 months, the platform launched group chats, giving customers the flexibility to speak with as much as 32 individuals without delay. TikTok additionally lately rolled out Creator Chat Rooms, a devoted area for creators and their followers to attach and work together with one another.